The Polka Podcast. On Polish Books. In English.

Books and authors mentioned in this episode:

Classics:

• Julian Tuwim, The Locomotive (illustrated by Jan Le Witt and George Him, translated by Bernard Gutteridge and William J. Peace; Thames and Hudson, 2017; and many other versions)
• Jan Brzechwa, Professor Inkblot's Academy (translated by Marek Kazmierski, Give the World, 2020)
• Janusz Korczak, King Matt the First (translated by Richard Lourie, Algonquin Books, 2004)
• Janusz Korczak, Kaytek the Wizard (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones, Penlight Publications, 2015)
• Maria Konopnicka, O krasnoludkach i o sierotce Marysi (The Orphan Mary and the Dwarves)

Newer: Hanna Ożogowska, Krystyna Ślesicka, Małgorzata Musierowicz, Czesław Janczarski (Miś Uszatek - Teddy Floppy Ear), Tadeusz Baranowski (Podróż Smokiem Diplodokiem - Diplodocus Dragon Travels), Krystyna Boglar, Clementine Loves Red (illustrated by Bohdan Butenko, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones, Zosia Krasodomska-Jones; Pushkin Children's, 2017)

Latest:

• Piotr Socha, The Book of Bees (translated by Agnes Monod-Gayraud; Thames and Hudson, 2016)
• Piotr Socha, The Book of Dirt (translated by Zosia Krasodomska-Jones; Thames and Hudson, 2022)
• Aleksandra and Daniel Mizieliński, Maps (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones; Big Picture Press, 2013)
• Olga Tokarczuk, The Lost Soul (illustrated by Joanna Concejo, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones; Seven Stories Press, 2021)
• Dorota Gellner (author)
• Marcin Minor (illustrator)
• Justyna Bednarek, Niesamowite przygody dziesięciu skarpetek (The Amazing Adventures of Ten Socks; Poradnia K, 2025)
• Gosia Herba and Mikołaj Pasiński, No. 5 Bubblegum Street (translated by Scotia Gilroy; Greystone Books 2024)
• Gosia Herba and Mikołaj Pasiński, No One Is Home (translated by Scotia Gilroy; Greystone Books, 2025)
• Gosia Herba and Mikołaj Pasiński, The Underground Adventure of the Brave Frog Rene (translated by Scotia Gilroy; Greystone Books, 2026)
• Tina Oziewicz, What Feelings Do When No One's Looking (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones; Pushkin Press, 2022)
• Tina Oziewicz, What Feelings Like Best (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones; Pushkin Press, 2024)
• Tina Oziewicz, What Feelings Do at Night (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones; Pushkin Press, 2025)
• Paweł Pawlak, Oscar Seeks a Friend (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones; Lantana Publishing, 2019)

Polish publishers mentioned: Nasza Księgarnia

British publishers mentioned: Emma Press, Lantana, Book Island, Pushkin Press, Nosy Crow, Usborne, Scholastic, Chicken House

Guests:

1. Karolina Jaszecka, an expert  in Polish children's books

KaBooks: https://ka-books.com/

2. Scotia Gilroy, a literary translator, including of children's books.

3. Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp, director of World Kid Lit

World Kid Lit: https://worldkidlit.org/what-is-world-kid-lit-month/

eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast

instytutpolski.pl

Thank you to our guests, Karolina Jaszecka, Scotia Gilroy and Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp.

Part 1: Polish poetry now.

Our guest, Piotr Florczyk, is an award-winning poets, scholar, essayist and translator. Among his two dozen publications are Dialogue and Influence: Essays on Polish and American Poets and Swimming Pool, a poetry collection. He translates Polish poetry into English.

More at piotrflorczyk.com

Poets mentioned:

Czesław Miłosz

Wisława Szymborska

Zbigniew Herbert

Adam Zagajewski

Tadeusz Dąbrowski

Anna Świrszczyńska AKA Anna Swir

Julian Kornhauser

Justyna Kulikowska

Joanna Bociąg

Maciej Robert

Krzysztof Siwczyk

Antonina Tosiek

Readings:

Piotr Florczyk reads two poems by Joanna Bociąg

Piotr Florczyk reads two poems by Maciej Robert

Part 2: More on Polish poetry and the European Poetry Festival

European Poetry Festival Polish evening participants: Weronika Lewandowska dna Misha Foster Poole, Agata Masłowska and Agnieszka Studzińska, Maria Jastrzębska and Jules Sprake, Anna Błasiak and Susie Campbell, Tomasz Mielcarek and Michael Back, Nasim Łuczaj and Hannah Klip, Landa Wo and James Byrne and Magda Drozd and Steven J. Fowler.

Other poets mentioned:

Radosław Wiśniewski

Readings:

Anna Błasiak reads an excerpt from Psalm to Saint Sabina by Radosław Wiśniewski (sidewayspress.com)

Readings from the European Poetry Festival:

Agata Masłowska and Agnieszka Studzińska

Maria Jastrzębska and Jules Sprake

eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast

instytutpolski.pl

Thank you to our guest, Piotr Florczyk.

Part 1: Main literature festivals in the UK which feature Polish writers: European Writers' Festival, Hay Festival, International Literature Festival in Dublin, London Literature Festival, Chelthenham Literature Festival and European Poetry Festival.

Polish-British writers mentioned: Wioletta Greg, Maria Jastrzębska, Tomasz Mielcarek, Agnieszka Dale and Agata Masłowska.

Independent publishers of translated literature mentioned: Linden Editions, Peirine Press, Fitzcarraldo Editions, And Other Stories, Sideways Press.

Polish writers who have appeared at previous editions of European Writers' Festival:

• Margo Rejmer ("Mud Sweeter than Honey", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2021 Maclehose Press).
• Witold Szabłowski ("What's Cooking in the Kremlin: A Modern History of Russia Through the Kitchen Door", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2023 Icon Books).

And at European Literature Night:

• Paweł Huelle ("Who was David Weiser?", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 1991 Bloomsbury),
• Jacek Dehnel ("Lala", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2018 Oneworld),
• Zygmunt Miłoszewski ("Entanglement", 2010 Bitter Lemon Press, "A Grain of Truth, 2012 Bitter Lemon Press, "Rage", 2016 Amazon Crossing; all three translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones),
• Wioletta Greg ("Finite Formulae & Theories of Chance", trans. Marek Kazmierski, 2014 Arc Publications, "Swallowing Mercory", trans. Eliza Marciniak, 2017 Portobello Books),
• Bożena Keff,
• Olga Tokarczuk,
• Jacek Dukaj,
• Filip Springer,
• Adam Zagajewski.

Polish writers featured in European Literature Network's The Polish Riveter: Olga Tokarczuk, Wiesław Myśliwski, Filip Springer, Żanna Słoniowska, Julia Fiedorczuk and Justyna Bargielska.

Part 2: Interview with Małgorzata Lebda and Antonia Lloyd-Jones

Małgorzata Lebda is a Polish poet and fiction writer, mountaineer, ultramarathon runner and photographer. She is the author of six poetry collections. Her prose debut "Voracious" (2025) has been widely nominated for prizes, including this year’s Dublin Literary Award.

Antonia Lloyd-Jones has translated works by many of Poland’s leading contemporary novelists and reportage authors, as well as classics, biographies, essays, crime fiction, poetry and children’s books.

Małgorzata Lebda's books in English:

"Queen Cells", trans. Elżbieta Wójcik-Leese, 2024 Broken Sleep Books

"Voracious", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2025 Linden Editions

"Mer de Glace" trans. Mira Rosenthal, 2026 Fitzcarraldo Editions

Readings from "Voracious" in Polish and English – 32:40

Readings from "Mer de Glace" in Polish and English – 42:00

Małgorzata Lebda UK tour:

14 May, St Anne's College, Oxford, 5pm

15 May, The Polish Hearth in London, 7.30pm

16 May, European Writers' Festival, 12.45am

eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast

instytutpolski.pl

Thank you to our guests, Małgorzata Lebda and Antonia Lloyd-Jones.

An exploration of Polish literature and film. Part one focuses on screen adaptations of Olga Tokarczuk's books. Part two is a conversation with Polish film critic Michał Oleszczyk on Andrzej Wajda and his book adaptations, his influence on Polish cinema, the flourishing of Polish film under communism and new directors and films worth attention. Part three is a conversation with Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska from ZNAK, one of the biggest Polish publishing houses. This conversation focuses on the state of publishing in Poland and the process of adapting books to the screen.

Part 1: Olga Tokarczuk's books in English and film adaptations

• "Primevial and Other Times", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2010, Twisted Spoon Press
• "House of Day, House of Night", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2002, Granta; 2003, Northwestern University Press; 2025, Firzcarraldo Editions
• "Flights", trans. Jennifer Croft, 2018, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions
• "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2019, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions
• "The Books of Jacob", trans. Jennifer Croft, 2022, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions
• "Empusium", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2024, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions

• Żurek, directed by Ryszard Brylski, 2003, based on Olga Tokarczuk's story from "Gra na wielu bębenkach"
• Spoor, directed by Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik, 2017, based on Olga Tokarczuk's "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead"
• Winter of the Crow, directed by Kasia Adamik, 2025, based on Olga Tokarczuk's story "Gra na wielu bębenkach"

Also the staging of "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead" at the Barbican Theatre, directed by Simon McBurney, 2022.

Part 2: Interview with Michał Oleszczyk

Andrzej Wajda's films

• Ashes and Diamonds, based on Jerzy Andrzejewski's book
• Man of Marble
• The Ashes, based on Stefan Żeromski's book
• Pan Tadeusz, based on Adam Mickiewicz's long poem
• The Wedding, based on Stanisław Wyspiański's play in verse
• Maids of Wilko, based on Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz's novella
• Rough Treatment
• The Promised Land, based on Władysław Reymont's novel
• The Orchestra Conductor

Other notable Polish directors:

• Agnieszka Holland
• Andrzej Żuławski
• Piotr Szulkin
• Witold Leszczyński
• Aleksander Ford
• Walerian Borowczyk
• Krzysztof Kieślowski
• Roman Polański
• Jerzy Skolimowski

New directors to watch out for:

• Paweł Pawlikowski
• Jan Matuszyński
• Jan Komasa
• Agnieszka Smoczyńska
• Aleksandra Terpińska

Part 3: Interview with Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska

Writers mentioned:

• Małgorzata Szejnert
• Wojciech Jagielski
• Wiesław Myśliwski ("The Needle's Eye")
• Małgorzata Lebda ("Voracious") and forthcoming adaptation by Jagoda Szelc
• Władysław Reymont's "The Peasants" and its adaptation
• Adam Mirek's "The Guts" and its forthcoming adaptation
• Heweliusz
• 365 days
• Forgotten Love

eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast

instytutpolski.pl

Thank you to our guests, Antonia Lloyd-Jones, Michał Oleszczyk and Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska.